Reverse Graffiti

Graffiti by: Alexandre Orion
Picture taken from: Scribol

Reverse graffiti is a form of street art where the artist rather than painting the street, cleans it. It removes either dust, dirt or any other polluting element from the walls. It is an environmental movement used to create awareness. It challenges and changes both ideals and perceptions.

Alexandre Orion is a reverse graffiti artist. He realized that in Sao Paulo, Brazil, tunnels were completely polluted. Authorities would not listen, which is why he decided to use street art as a way to create awareness. What he did was amazing.

He began to clean the pollution of a city tunnel by drawing skulls. He was threatened by police men, until they realized that he was not actually using paint for his skulls, but rather a clean cloth. He drew the skulls doing reverse graffiti. His objective was that his graffiti would be removed, and the only way to do this was by cleaning the walls of the tunnel. He not only accomplished this in that tunnel, but city officials cleaned every tunnel of the city.

Orion’s message was clear and had a tremendous impact in the city. He “remind[ed] people of the things they [were] trying to forget” (Orion). He reminded people about pollution, and how much it actually contaminates the city.

I believe this case study is relevant for our topic, as he proved the world how street art can actually make a difference. He was able to demonstrate how art creates awareness and how the street is the perfect place to get not only people’s attention, but also the law’s attention. He is brilliant.

We, as street art seekers are looking for people like Orion; people who use art as a tool to get others’ attention. Pollution and contamination may seem like overrated and forgotten topics, but are actually issues the world faces nowadays. We seek to find more people who devote themselves to make the world a better place.

-Alegría Sanchis

Sources:

Video: Youtube

Information: Scribol